President Trump’s National Economic Council director said formal negotiations over a new coronavirus relief package would not begin until late May or after, as the White House evaluates the current stimulus.
“We’re kind of paused as far as formal negotiations go,” Larry Kudlow told reporters outside the White House on Friday. He said conversations with lawmakers were ongoing and that he and Kevin Hassett, another economic adviser to the president, held a phone call with “about 50” Republican and Democratic House members on Thursday.
Before a new bill is negotiated, Kudlow said the White House wanted to evaluate the stimulus already passed as states begin to reopen for business.
“We just had another big infusion. We poured all this money in. Let’s see what happens,” Kudlow said.
Kudlow continued: “As we move into the reopening phase this month, maybe spill over to June, let’s have a look at it before we decide who, what, where, when.”
House Democrats are working on a proposal for the next bill, which is expected to include a bailout of the U.S. Postal Service and aid to state, local, and tribal governments. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said they were aiming for a vote next week.
Republicans in the House and Senate have called for liability protections for businesses as they start to reopen, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell calling these “essential” in a joint statement.
Trump has pushed to include payroll tax cuts.
Kudlow said the White House would be talking about plans to incentivize a safe reopening of the economy.
“We’re kind of regrouping,” he added. “May is going to be another tough month.”
Hassett, on CNN Friday morning, predicted further layoffs. Two-thirds of laid-off workers said they expected to return to work.
